NavSource Main Page FAQ Contact us Search NavSource

Waving US Flag

NavSource Naval History
Photographic History of the United States Navy
DESTROYER
ARCHIVE

USS CRAVEN (DD-70)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NERJ

CLASS - CALDWELL As Built.
Displacement 1,125 Tons, Dimensions, 315' 6" (oa) x 31' 2" x 11' 6" (Max)
Armament 4 x 4"/50, 2 x 1pdr AA, 12 x 21" tt..
Machinery, 20,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 30 Knots, Crew 100.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Norfolk Navy Yard on November 20 1917.
Launched June 29 1918 and commissioned October 19 1918.
At wars end Craven was undergoing her shakedown, she was placed into
reserve at Philadelphia on October 10 1919. Craven in reduced commission
made a few voyages and arrived back at Philadelphia on March 29 1922.
Decommissioned at Philadelphia June 15 1922 and berthed
with the reserve fleet. Craven gave up name to new construction
on May 31 1935. Renamed DD- 70 Conway November 20 1939.
Recommissioned August 9 1940 and decommissioned and given
to Britain October 23 1940, stricken January 8 1941. Renamed HMS Lewes (G68).
Fate Scuttled October 12 1945.

Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Craven 47kTunis Augustus Macdonough Craven was born 11 January 1813 in Portsmouth, N.H., and appointed midshipman 2 February 1829. He served with distinction in the Mexican War and commanded the Atrato Expedition in 1857 which surveyed the Isthmus of Darien. In 1860 he was presented with a gold medal and diploma by Queen Isabella II of Spain for the rescue of the crew of a Spanish merchant vessel. In the Battle of Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864, Commander Craven commanded Tecumseh, which was struck by a torpedo while leading the attack. The vessel sank almost immediately carrying with her Commander Craven who had drawn back, giving his life to permit his pilot to escape through the narrow opening in the turret tower.Bill Gonyo
Craven 143kPhoto #: NH 78706, USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) ship's boilers under construction in the Erecting Shop at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 15 May 1917. Note flags on display. Craven was not laid down until 20 December 1917. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Paul Rebold
Craven 140kPhoto #: NH 78700, USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) under construction at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 11 December 1917. View looks forward from over the stern and shows framing and bulkheads in place. Her keel was laid on 20 November 1917, and she was launched on 29 June 1918.Paul Rebold
Craven 127kUSS Craven (Destroyer # 70), a view on the main deck aft from amidships, while she was under construction at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 4 June 1918. Note Freight Lighter # 53 (later YF-53) in the centre distance. U.S. Naval Historical Centre Photo # NH 78695.Robert Hurst
Craven 63kPhoto #: NH 97968, USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, circa late 1918. Note the ship's number painted on her pilothouse face. Collection of Rear Admiral Bradford Bartlett, USN. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Paul Rebold
Craven 154kPhoto #: NH 78694, USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) view on the main deck looking forward on the starboard side amidships, while she was under construction at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 4 June 1918. Her keel was laid on 20 November 1917, and she was launched on 29 June 1918. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Paul Rebold
Craven 101kPhoto #: NH 78695, USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) view on the main deck looking aft from amidships, while she was under construction at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 4 June 1918. Her keel was laid on 20 November 1917 and she was launched on 29 June 1918. Note Freight Lighter # 53 in the center background. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Paul Rebold
Craven 194kUSS Craven (Destroyer # 70) Ready for launching, at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 29 June 1918. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Craven 102kUSS Craven (Destroyer # 70) Ready for launching, at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 29 June 1918. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Craven 77kPhoto #: 19-N-16455 USS Craven (DD-70) photographed on 1 November 1918 by the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia. Note her "dazzle" camouflage scheme. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.-
Craven 110kUSS Craven (DD-70) Dressed with flags, circa late 1918, possibly in celebration of the 11 November 1918 Armistice. Note her "dazzle" camouflage. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Craven 91kPhiladelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania: Warships in the Reserve Basin, 18 November 1919, as seen by a Philadelphia Evening Ledger photographer. Ships are (from left to right): USS Wisconsin (Battleship # 9); USS Illinois (Battleship # 7); USS Alabama (Battleship # 8); a Pittsburgh class armored cruiser; two battleships, probably Connecticut class; USS Stringham (Destroyer # 83); USS Craven (Destroyer # 70); USS Maury (Destroyer # 100); and USS Sigourney (Destroyer # 81). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
On British Service
HMS Lewes (ex-USS Conway, ex-USS Craven, DD-70) Lewes arrived at Devonport on 17 November 1940 for refit which lasted until 28 March 1941, like HMS Leeds a symptom of her age and early design. She also had the misfortune to be bombed during an air raid on Devonport on 22 April 1941, while still in the yard, so that she did not finally enter service with Rosyth Command until February 1942, the last 'Town' to become fully operational. After only ten months of escort work on the East Coast, Lewes refitted on the Humber as an air target ship until March 1943, whereon she was ordered to join the South Atlantic Command based at Capetown, South Africa. She went out with troop convoy WS29, and other than for one inexplicable passage to Casablanca and back in Jan/Feb 1944, remained on station in the target role. In August 1945, the East Indies Fleet having at last attained a reasonable carrier strength and local Air Stations, the need arose for an air target ship in Ceylon. Lewes was duly ordered East to her new station, where she actually saw operational service, being used for escort to at least one supply convoy from Ceylon to Addu Atoll in September 1944. In 1945, the needs of war caused yet another move further east. The newly formed British Pacific Fleet had set up training Air Stations in Australia, and Lewes was ordered to Sydney, NSW, to operate as a target for them. She duly sailed from Trincomalee to Fremantle escorting the destroyer depot ship HMS Tyne, and then went onward to ner new post where she served out the war. The old ship outlived all her sisters in British service, not paying off until November 1945 at Sydney where nominally passed to BISCo for disposal, she was stripped of valuable scrap and the hull scuttled off Sydney on 25 May 1946. (History thanks to Robert Hurst.)
Craven 50kThe 'Town' class - Group 1 destroyer HMS Lewes (ex-USS Craven, ex-USS Conway) underway sometime in 1942, location unknown. RN Official photo.Robert Hurst
Craven 77kHMS Lewes (G.68) underway in Plymouth Sound, England December 21 1941. Photo taken by unknown Royal Navy official photographer. Photo # FL 3259 from the collections of the Imperial War Museum.Robert Hurst
Craven 75kThe 'Town' class destroyer HMS Lewes (ex-USS Conway, ex-USS Craven, DD-70) underway whilst on East Coast convoy duty circa 1942 (Admiralty Official).Robert Hurst
Craven 60kThe 'Town' class destroyer HMS Lewes (ex-USS Conway, ex-USS Craven, DD-70) underway whilst on East Coast convoy duty circa 1942 (Admiralty Official).Robert Hurst
Craven 72kAs the HMS Lewes, October 1942 while serving with Rosyth Escort Force (Admiralty Official)..LT(SCC) Mark Reeves RNR

USS CRAVEN DD-70 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves

LCDR Millington Barnett McComb    Oct 19 1918 - Jan 15 1919
LCDR Edgar Arnold Logan    Jan 15 1919 - May 27 1920
LCDR Schamyl Cochran    May 27 1920 - Jun 15 1922
(Decommissioned June 15 1922 - August 9 1940)
LCDR Donald Cord Varian    Aug 9 1940 - Oct 23 1940 (Later RADM)

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

Back To The Main Photo Index To The Destroyer Index Page


Comments and Suggestions about this page, E-mail DestroyerInfo
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster